John Duval Wines, Plexus, Barossa Valley, 2004

Hazy purple/red.

Spicy fig, date, oak spices, slightly gamey on the nose. Quite deep and integrated.

Fleshy and giving in the mouth, with nice sweetness. Grainy tannin provides structural support. This had more flavor complexity when opened yesterday. Today the plum and blackberry action is in the background.


49% Shiraz, 27% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre


$40

Contino, Gran Reserva Rioja 1996

Deep red.

Great, melded nose - woodsmoke, grilled nuts, pepper, strawberry/cherry, clay/earth ...

Cherry preserves, pepper, clay/earth in the mouth. Middle-weight impact, with noticeable acid-driven tannin that doesn't derail flavor-flow. Minerally finish lightly coats the teeth, front to back.

This rocks.

Opened yesterday.


$60

Saxum, Heart Stone Vyd, Paso Robles 2004

Deep red/purple.

Nose is tough to pin down - fresh earth, oak nuts, red and black fruit liqueur - smells a bit like port.

Sweet initial impression carries all the way thru to finish without a hiccup. Much more textural interest in the mouth than flavor action. Mineral/stony chew marks the kirsch(?) finish.

I find nothing particularly interesting here. Maybe air time will help.


Day 4 - Roasted oak on the nose and in the mouth, with cran/cherry jam flavor.

60% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache


$45

Robert Foley, Petite Sirah, Napa Valley 2004

Opaque purple.

Great, fresh, deep, blue and black fruit, fresh earth nose with sexy oak backing it all up. Aussie-esque.

Incredibly round and mouthfilling for Petite, initially, then tannin kicks in, and they are a bit abrasive at present. Fruit is all about blackberry pie-filling. Long, despite tannin, which is actually well-mannered for a Petite this concentrated.


Day 4 - Absolutely black. Flamboyant nose - coconut, oak spice, pepper, fresh earth and blackberry coulis.
Fat in the mouth now, at least initially. Then slightly aggressive tannin kicks in, as does a bit of heat. A wild thing.

14.5% alcohol on label.

$75

Brewer-Clifton, Chardonnay, Seasmoke, Santa Rita Hills 2005

Very pale yelow.

Subtle, refined nose of lightly baked apple, light sulfides, mineral, pear skin and a lifted note that reminds me of high-class German Riesling. This keeps changing in the glass. Lemon, fresh herbs and face powder now.

Middle-weight entry, then a surge of textural sweetness and a bit of alcohol that blurs mid-palate a bit. But this doesn't actually seem hot in the mouth. Mineral chew throughout, all still refined and fairly tightly knit.

I have no idea where this is headed. 16.4% alcohol barely shows, but I wonder if the aromatic complexity will ever migrate into the mouth.


$57

Chateau de Fonsalette, Cotes-du-Rhone, Syrah 1993

Deep red, rust rim.

Earth, smoke, grilled herbs (was wilted greens when opened 2 hours ago), candied cherry/black fruit and brick aromas. Smells a bit like old Bordeaux, but has many other things going on too. Getting cinnamon now ...

Plush entry, then grainy, slightly coarse tannin makes an appearance. Wilted greens, bacon and a blood/iron note. Still chewy, hitting the front teeth.

1993 was a terrible vintage in the Rhone - never know it from this (my last) bottle. Stupidly good.

$30?

Sea Smoke, Pinot Noir, "Southing", Santa Rita Hills 2005

Bright red.

Bright red cherry/cranberry, floral, citrus, meal and suave oak spice aromas.

Intense, spicy red fruit entry - very much a racy middle-weight. Shows a touch of heat (14.7%). Acidity keeps flavors under wraps right now, but I'm sure this will expand in the mouth with cellar time. Very classy, perfumed stuff.

Day 4 - Additional fruit depth today, along with a suggestion of strawberry coulis. Alcohol still intrudes on the back end.
I'd guess this will integrate with another 3-5 years in the bottle.



$65